Decarbonizing wastewater treatment plants: leveraging the industrial benefits and energy savings of co-locating utility-scale hydrogen electrolyzers at wastewater treatment facilities

National Grid envisions the integration of utility-scale hydrogen electrolysis and municipal-sized wastewater treatment systems to maximize synergistic opportunities. Currently, the valuable oxygen by-product of water electrolysis is released into the atmosphere, while wastewater treatment systems require additional energy to introduce oxygen. Through our proposed Synergistic Hydrogen and Oxygen at Wastewater (SHOW) Platform, we aim to co-locate these processes. Oxygen generated by utility-scale electrolyzers is injected into the wastewater aeration system, enhancing water treatment efficiency. Simultaneously, the hydrogen by-product is blended into the natural gas pipeline, displacing methane, and reducing emissions. This paradigm shift in resource allocation offers substantial emissions reductions, lowers electrical demand for wastewater treatment, and creates a new revenue stream. By using electrolytic oxygen, we improve the operational, electrical, and carbon intensity impacts of wastewater treatment. Simultaneously, this innovative approach makes electrolytically produced green hydrogen more economically viable and attractive, delivering significant emission reductions. The SHOW Platform represents a unique commercial offering, showcasing the synergy between electrolysis and wastewater treatment while driving sustainability and cost-effectiveness.